Polyphase photo-electric device



` c. w. HouGH PoLYPHAsE PHOTO ELECTRIC'Q'I'SEVIGE May 30, -1933.

Filed Dec. 27, 195o INVENToR ugh .v BY

.ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1933' UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcl.:

CLINTON WALLACE BOUGE, OF YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WIRED RADIO, INC., Ol NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE roLYrmsE pHoro-ELECTRIC DEVICE Application med December 27, 1930. Serial No, 505,057.

a photosensitive device for producing polyphase current.

One of the objects of my invention consists in providing a ohotoelectric device for producing photoelectric currents in polyphase relation.

Another object consists in producing a photosensitive device having a plurality of cathodes interconnected in polyphase relal accomplish the above desirable objects in a novel ty' e of photoelectric cell having an anode an a plurality of cathodes contained within an envelope and connected to a polyphase circuit.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part oi this specification and 1n which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout: 0

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the photoelectric device of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the lme 2-2 of Figi; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of thesystem ol my invention for producing polvnhase current and which utilizes the photoelectric device shown in Fig. 1.

In my Patent 1,886,188, issued November 1, 1932, l have disclosed a system for producing polyphase current by means of a rotating aperture disk which interrupts irradiations incident upon a plurality of pho- 'toelectric cells interconnected in polyphase relation. l My present invention is directed to providing a unitary construction of a photoelectric device having a plurality lof photosensitive cathodes and a single anode within the same containing envelope employed in conjunction with a polyphase circuit. Light directed upon these cathodes in polyphase time relation will, therefore, produce polyphase current in accordance with my invention. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularl to Fig. 1, I provide an envelope 1 compos of a suitable transparent material such as lglass or fused uartz. This envelope 1s evacuated to-provi e an attenuated atmosphere within suitable for produccathodes. are composed of a suitable metall1c material such as nickel and are coated upon their interior surfaces )with ya photosensitive element such as potassium or caesium. A tubular anode 8 is positioned Within the envelope 1 at approximately the center of the radius of the cylindrical' surfaces formed by the cathodes 2, 3, and 4. When proper potentials are applied to the cathodes 2, 3, and 4, and the anode 8, irradiations directed upon the photosensitive surface 'of the cathodes 2, 3, and 4 will produce photoelectric emission to the anode 8. This photo` electric emission to theanode 8 Willbe substantially proportional tol the intensity of the irradiations incident upon the cathodes. The foregoing constitutes the construction of photoelectric cell employed in the system of my invention. llt is, of course, to be understood that `the number of cathodes can be varied to produce various number oi phases.

According to my invention, the envelo e l, in Fig. 3, is disposed in the path of irra iations from a 1am 9 which is positioned in front of a parabolic reflector 10. The lamp 9 in the present embodiment of my invention is of the incandescent type and is connected to a source of current 1l. However, any suitable source oirradiations may be substituted for the. lamp 9. A disk 12 is interposed between the lamp 9 and the envelope 1. This disk is opaque and is providedwith an annular series of apertures adapted to periodically admitv light rays from the lamp 9 to the envelope 1 when the disk is rotated. An aperture plate 13 is positioned between the disk-12 and the envelope 1'. This aperture plate is opaque but is provided with three apertures which defnethree beams ot light whichare respectively incident `upon the three cathodes within the envelope 1.

The apertures in the plate 13 are so'disposed with reference to the apparatus in the disk 12 that, when the disk 12 is rotated, the

13 with relation to the series of apertures in the disk 12 in a manner such that when the lower aperture in the plate 13 is in full engagement with one of the apertures in the disk 12, the middle aperture in the plate 13 is displaced from full engagement with another one of the apertures in the disk 12 by lan arcuate distance equal to two-thirds the diameter of any aperture in the disk 12 and further, the topmost a erture in the plate A13 is displaced from t e next successive aperture in the disk12,'through which light from the source 9 will be transmitted through the topmost aperture .in the plate 13, by one and one-third times the diameter of any aperture in the disk 12. `Preferably 'the apertures in the disk 12 are so placed therein thatthe arcuate space between each aperture is equal to the diameter of any of the apertures. In this manner, when the disk 12 is rotated `in the direction of the arrow thereon, light impulses will be transmitted through the disk 12 and the plate 13 in proper time sequence to produce through the agency of the photoelectric cell 1 and its associated thermionic tubes and circuits polyphase currents in the output circuits of the thermionic tubes. It is to be understood that the mechanical arrangement of the parts shown in Fig. 3 `is purely elementary and not intended to denote mechanical construction. The exact arrangement of mechanical `parts for producing successive excitation of photosensitive cathodes in olyphase relation is disclosed in greater etai] in my patent before referred to.

The anode 8 is connected through a source of high potential 14 to the filaments of three space discharge amplifiers 15, 16, and 17, as

shown. The cathodes 2, 3, and 4 are respectively connected throu h` the electrostatic condensers 18, 19, an 2O to the grids of the space discharge amplifiers 1,5, 16, and

- 17. Resistances 21, 22, and 23 are provided across the input circuit of each of the space discharge amplifiers. The plate of the space Aes discharge amplifiers '15, 16, and 17 are respectively connected to three inductances 24, 25, and 26 which are interconnected in Y-formationv at a common point 27. A connection is provided from the point 27 through a source of high potential 28 to all of the filaments of the space discharge amplifiers 15,

'16, and 17. Three other inductan'ces 29, 30 and 31 are interconnected in Y-formation at a common point 32 and are electromagneticallycoupled to the inductances 24, 25, and 26, respectively. The inductances 29, 30 and 31 comprise a work circuit for utilization of the polyphase current produced according to my system. Y

The photoelectric currents produced4 in` polyphase relation by the cathodes 2, 3, and 4 are respectively amplified b the s ace discharge amplifiers 15, 16, an 17 he outputs of these amplifiers then energize the inductances 24, 25, and 26 to induce threephase current in the work circuits 29, 30, and 31. rIhe light intensit from the lamp 9 can. be varied, if desire in accordance with voice modulatin currents and thereby effect modulation of t e three-phase current produced by my system.

It will now be evident that I have provided a unitary photosensitive device adapted to produce polyphase current by photosensitive means in a simple and eiiicient manner. It is, of course, to be understoodthat changes 1n my polyphase photoelectric device may be made but which will not depart from the intended scope of my invention. I do not, therefore, desire to limit said envelope, a space discharge amplifier connected to each of said cathodes, and an output circuit for each of said space discharge amplifiers, said output circuits being .interconnected in polyphase relation.

3. The combination of an evacuated enj velope, an anode within said envelope, a plurality of'photosensitive cathodes within said envelope, a common source of current for energizing all of said cathodes, a plurality of space discharge tubes each of which is under control of one of said cathodes, and a plurality. of inductances each of which is adapted to be energized by a different one of said space discharge tubes, said inductances being interconnected in polyphase relation.

4. The combinationY with a plurality of space dischargeltubes each having.. a grid,

plate, and a filament, of an ev'w ted envelope, an anode within said envelope and connected to al1 of said filaments, a' pluralit of photosensitive cathodes within said enve ope, each of said cathodes being connected to one of said grids; anda polypliase output circuit interconnecting sald p ates. f

5. The combination with a' plurality off space discharge tubes each having an anode, a rid, and a ii1ament,.of .anevacuated enve ope, an anode within said envelope and connected to al1 ,of said laments, a lural'i- A ty of photosensitive cathodes `withm saidl envelope, each of said cathodes being connected to one of said grids, anda plurality of inducta-nces eachof'which is connected-bo one of said anodes, said inductances being interconnected in polyphase relation.

CLINTON WALLACE HoUoH,

so. l 

